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What is pet scan?
Before a PET scan is carried out, a radioactive medicine is produced in a machine called a cyclotron. This is then attached to a natural chemical, such as glucose, water or ammonia, to make a radioactive version of the chemical. This is known as a radiotracer. A small amount of radiotracer is either injected into your arm, or you will breathe it in as a gas.
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pet scan information from trusted sources:
PET scan
A positron emission tomography (PET) scan is an imaging test that uses a radioactive substance (called a tracer) to look for disease in the body. Unlike magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scans, which reveal the structure of and blood flow to and from organs, a PET scan shows how organs and tissues are working. See also: Bone scan Nuclear ventriculography Pulmonary ventilation/perfusion scan Renal scan Thyroid scan Read more on
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Positron emission tomography
A PET scan produces three-dimensional, colour images that show how the tissues inside your body work. PET stands for positron emission tomography. Read more on
www.nhs.uk
Positron emission tomography scan
A PET scan (positron emission tomography) is an imaging test that can help reveal how your tissues and organs are functioning. To show this chemical activity, a small amount of radioactive material must enter your body. Read more on
www.mayoclinic.com
Nuclear Medicine, PET
A PET scan measures important body functions, such as blood flow, oxygen use, and sugar (glucose) metabolism, to help doctors evaluate how well organs and ... Read more on
www.radiologyinfo.org
Positron emission tomography - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
PET scans are increasingly read alongside CT or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, the combination ("co-registration") giving both anatomic and ... Read more on
en.wikipedia.org
PET Scan
A positron emission tomography (PET) scan is a unique type of imaging test that helps doctors see how the organs and tissues inside your body are actually ... Read more on
my.clevelandclinic.org
Positron emission tomography (PET) scan - WebMD
Aug 18, 2009 ... Positron emission tomography (PET) is a test that uses a special type of camera and a special test medicine (radioactive tracer) to look at ... Read more on
www.webmd.com
Brain Scans That Spy on the Senses
The PET scan on the left shows two areas of the brain (red and yellow) that become particularly active when volunteers read words on a video screen: the ... Read more on
www.hhmi.org
What Is PET
If you're interested in learning how a PET scan can benefit you and need ... PET is often used in conjunction with an MRI or CT scan through "fusion" to ... Read more on
interactive.snm.org
PET scan Information on Healthline
A positron emission tomography (PET) scan is an imaging test that uses a radioactive substance (called a tracer) to look for disease in the body. Read more on
www.healthline.com
Contents
Considerations
It is possible to have false results on a PET scan. Blood sugar or insulin levels may affect the test results in people with diabetes.
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How it is performed
A PET scan is usually an outpatient treatment, which means you will not need to stay in hospital overnight.
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How the Test is Performed
The health care provider will inject a small amount of a radioactive material into one of your veins, usually on the inside of the elbow. The substance travels through the blood and collects in organs and tissues.
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How the Test Will Feel
You will feel a sharp prick when the needle with the radioactive substance is inserted into your vein. You shouldn't feel anything during the actual PET scan.
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How to Prepare for the Test
You must sign a consent form before having this test. You will be told not to eat anything for 4 - 6 hours before the PET scan, although you will be able to drink water.
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Indications
A PET scan is a complementary test. This means that it is usually used with other tests, such as X-rays or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, to diagnose or investigate a health condition. It can also be used to find out how well a treatment is working.
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Normal Results
There are no problems detected in the size, shape, or position of an organ. There are no areas in which the radiotracer has abnormally collected.
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www.nlm.nih.gov
Risks
The amount of radiation used in a PET scan is low. It is about the same amount of radiation as in most CT scans. Also, the radiation doesn't last for very long in your body.
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What Abnormal Results Mean
Abnormal heart function Abnormal size, shape, or position of an organ Alzheimer's disease Cancer (presence and how far it has spread) Change in organ function Growths Infection
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www.nlm.nih.gov